A Visit to Lebanon: MECA Projects for Refugees from Syria
Close to 40,000 people live in this crowded, deteriorating camp. By Nancy Ippolito, MECA Staff In June, I travelled to Lebanon with my daughter, Lucia, to visit MECA’s projects in Beirut and the [...]
Celebration Amid Displacement: Silwan, East Jerusalem
A children’s gymnastics team performed at the packed graduation celebration, along with three dance troupes, a choir, musicians, and two hip-hop groups. Credit: Fidaa Rwaidy By Jody Sokolower I recently returned from my [...]
The electricity situation overshadows everything in Gaza
The electricity shortage impacts every family in Gaza
Shafaq’s Story: World Refugee Day
Shafaq
She fled her home in Dera’a, Syria and is currently living with her family in Bekaa, Lebanon. Shafaq shared her story with us through the Middle East Children’s Alliance, which provides emergency support to newly arrived refugees in Lebanon. She is 14 years old.
Shoruq Tour: Palestinian Refugee Youth Visit the U.S.
The show celebrated Palestinian culture and told the history of Palestinian refugees and daily life under occupation. CREDIT: Brooke Anderson In March 2017, MECA brought eighteen young dancers and hip-hop performers from Shoruq [...]
Mona, Education Student
Mona Abu Yousef is studying education at Al Aqsa University, Gaza, Palestine "During the last war on Gaza, our house was completely destroyed. Today, we live in a small house of one room for the [...]
Stop the Imprisonment of Palestinian Children
By Azadeh Shahshahani
Today, to mark Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, about 1,000 prisoners have begun a hunger strike in protest against decades of arbitrary arrest and inhumane treatment. Approximately 6,300 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons and detention centers, including 300 children.
Ahmed, Medical Student
Ahmed Abu Hajjaj, is studying medicine at Al Azhar University, Gaza Palestine "Being a doctor was my passion since I was a child. However, I faced many obstacles such as the expensive cost of studying [...]
Five children who got longer sentences for throwing stones than Israeli soldier who shot incapacitated Palestinian dead
By Bethan McKernan, The Independent
An 18-month jail sentence handed down to an Israel Defence Force (IDF) recruit for the killing of a wounded Palestinian has prompted widespread criticism for its apparent leniency in light of the severity of his crime.